Surface Cleaner

ABSTRACT

A surface cleaner and a method for using the surface cleaner are disclosed. The surface cleaner comprises a cleaner body with a lid, a hand gripping post and a thumb rest. The cleaning may be performed by a pad attached to the bottom of the cleaner body. Alternatively a sheet, such as a cloth or a paper towel, folded into the inside of the surface cleaner may be used. To hold the surface cleaner, the hand gripping post is inserted between the middle and ring fingers and the thumb is rested on the thumb rest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a hand held surface cleaner and a method for cleaning a surface with the surface cleaner. The surfaces on which the cleaner may be used for removing dirt and stains may include but not limited to windows, furniture, household walls, bathtubs, tile and metal, and made of materials including but not limited to glass, metal, ceramic, plastic, Formica®, cement and wood. In order to clean quickly and efficiently, it is desirable to provide a comfortable yet tight gripping feature and the flexibility of moving and turning the wiper in all directions of x, y, and z planes. Having the option of using either or both a rough surface for scrubbing and an easy to change disposable sheet for wiping would also be desirable. Additionally, having the option of dry or wet cleaning, achievable by soaking the cleaning surface in water or in a cleaning solution, is likewise desirable. These features are not present in the prior art references. Thus there is a need for an improved hand held surface wiper that would include these features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a surface cleaner comprises a cleaner body having an inner surface, a bottom surface, a front side, a back side and lateral sides; a lid having an inner surface, a top surface, a front side and a back side, the lid being hingedly connected to the cleaner body; a pad attached to the bottom surface of the cleaner body; a hand gripping post attached to the top surface of the lid; and a thumb rest member attached to the hand gripping member.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for cleaning a surface comprises providing the surface cleaner of the present invention; folding a sheet over the pad and onto the inside surface of the cleaner body; closing the lid in a manner that engages the latch; inserting the hand gripping post between two fingers; and placing a thumb on the thumb rest.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top, side and front perspective view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is the top, side and front perspective view of the closed surface cleaner of FIG. 1 containing a cleaner sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is the front elevation view of the closed surface cleaner of FIG. 3 containing a cleaner sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is the side elevation view of the closed surface cleaner of FIG. 5 containing a cleaner sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom, side and front perspective view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top, side and front perspective view of an open surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a top, side and front perspective view of an open surface cleaner having a sheet folded inside the cleaner body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a top, side and front exploded view of the cleaner body and the pad according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a top, side and front perspective view of a hand holding position of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide for a surface cleaner and for a method of using the cleaner. The cleaner of the present invention contains a cleaner body, a lid and a cleaning pad attached to the bottom surface of the cleaner body. Attachment of the cleaning pad to the bottom of the cleaner body may be accomplished by the use of an adhesive or by manufacturing the cleaner body and cleaner pad as one piece. The pad may be made of foam, an abrasive material such as steel wool, cloth, nonwoven, plastic or combinations thereof. In some cleaning applications, the cleaning action may be accomplished by direct contact between the pad and the target surface. The pad may be used dry, soaked in water or soaked in a cleaning solution. In another embodiment of the present invention, a sheet is placed over the pad and used as the cleaning medium. The sheet may be made of paper or cloth and may be used dry, soaked in water or soaked in a cleaning solution.

The lid is hingedly connected to the cleaner body. A latch clamp attached to the front inside part of the lid closes onto a latch lock member on the inside front part of the cleaner body to form a closed position for the surface cleaner. A hand gripping post is attached to the outside of the lid surface, and a thumb rest is attached onto the hand gripping post. The thumb rest may have a circular shape, a rectangular or a triangular shape. However other shapes also fall within the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention the cleaning sheet is folded over the pad and into the inside of the cleaner body. The lid is then closed to hold the sheet in place. In another embodiment, at least two locking strips disposed longitudinally and attached to the inside cleaner body surface, and at least two locking grooves disposed longitudinally and attached to the inside surface of the lid are further used to hold the sheet firmly in place during the cleaning process. Each locking groove is configured to fit over a locking strip.

In one embodiment of the present invention, sheet support tabs may be positioned at the sides of the cleaner body. The tabs support the sheet as it is folded into the inside of the cleaner body, and help keep it stretched and held in place.

The surfaces on which the cleaner may be used for removing dirt and stains may include but not limited to windows, furniture, household walls, bathtubs, tile and metal, and made of materials including but not limited to glass, metal, ceramic, plastic, Formica®, cement and wood.

To hold the surface cleaner, the hand gripping post may be inserted between any two fingers with the back of the hand in contact with the outside part of the lid, and the thumb is placed on the thumb rest. For most users, the most comfortable position is likely to be using the middle and ring fingers. This enables the person performing the cleaning to move the cleaning device in all directions by a combination of wrist and elbow movement. However, other finger, hand positions and gripping positions also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustration of the surface cleaner in a closed position featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, and sheet support tab 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a representation of the surface cleaner in a closed position having sheet 6 folded into the cleaner featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3 and the pad 4.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the surface cleaner indicating the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, sheet locking groove 7 and sheet locking strip 8.

FIG. 4 depicts the embodiment of the surface cleaner in FIG. 3 showing a sheet 6.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner indicating the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and sheet support tab 5.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner showing the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and sheet 6.

FIG. 7 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner showing the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, and sheet support tab 5.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner indicating the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and hinge 9.

FIG. 9 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner in an open position showing latch clamp 3, pad 4, sheet support tab 5, sheet 6, locking groove 7, sheet locking strip 8, lid 10, latch lock 11, and the inside surface of the cleaner body 12.

FIG. 10 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner in an open position showing latch clamp 3, sheet 6 folded into the inside of the cleaner body, locking groove 7, lid 10, latch lock 11, and the inside surface of the cleaner body 12.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown an illustration of the surface cleaner in a closed position featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4 as a separate piece, and sheet support tab 5.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown an illustration of the surface cleaner in a position held by a person's hand 13 featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, and sheet 6. 

1. A surface cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having an inner surface, a bottom surface, a front side, a back side and two lateral sides; a lid having an inner surface, a top surface, a front side and a back side, said lid being hingedly connected to said cleaner body; a pad attached to said bottom surface of said cleaner body; a hand gripping post attached to the top surface of said lid; and a thumb rest attached to the hand gripping member.
 2. The surface cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a latch, said latch containing a clamp attached to the inner surface front side of said lid, and a lock attached to the inner surface front side of said cleaner body.
 3. The surface cleaner of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of sheet support tabs disposed on said lateral sides of the cleaner body.
 4. The surface cleaner of claim 3, further comprising sheet locking strips disposed on the inner surface of said cleaner body.
 5. The surface cleaner of claim 4, further comprising sheet locking grooves disposed on the inner surface of said lid.
 6. The surface cleaner of claim 4, wherein said sheet locking strips are longitudinally disposed on the inner surface of said cleaner body.
 7. The surface cleaner of claim 5, wherein said sheet locking grooves are longitudinally disposed on the inner surface of said lid.
 8. The surface cleaner of claim 5 further comprising a sheet disposed on the pad and folded onto the inside surface of the cleaner body.
 9. The surface cleaner of claim 8, wherein said sheet is a paper towel.
 10. The surface cleaner of claim 8, wherein said sheet is a cloth.
 11. The surface cleaner of claim 8, wherein the sheet is soaked in a cleaning solution.
 12. The surface cleaner of claim 3, wherein four sheet support tabs are disposed on each of the two lateral sides of the cleaner body.
 13. A method for getting a surface cleaner ready for cleaning a surface comprising; providing the surface cleaner of claim 7; folding a sheet over the pad and onto the inside surface of said cleaner body; closing the lid in a manner that engages the latch; and inserting the hand gripping post between two fingers; placing a thumb on the thumb rest; and
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the two fingers are a middle finger and a ring finger.
 15. The method of claim 13 further comprising dipping the sheet into a cleaning solution. 